Archives: Artists

Through careful attention to detail with my dimensional pieces, my aim is to share a respect of the natural world in a tangible way, drawing the viewer into the work of art.
The depth of the pieces is created by using several techniques – using layering and diminishing the size, colour, tone, texture, and translucence on each receding layer. I generally use 6 to 9 layers of glass and once all the individual layers are painted, with hot-fire enamel paints, they are pre-fired (sometimes 2-3 times) and then kiln-cast into solid panels.
I’m inspired by the translucent qualities of glass, colour gradations, curvilinear designs and nature inspired artwork. I also love working to commission.

My background… I began working with stained glass, reverse glass painting and fused glass. My body of work includes stained glass windows, fused glass splashbacks for kitchens & bathrooms, glass wall art and dimensional pieces of glass artwork!

I blend heritage stained glass methods with modern techniques to create individual pieces of glass art that can fit into both residential and architectural spaces. Often working to a brief that captures my clients’ unique stories or memories, I work to create both three dimensional and two dimensional imagery in glass using a wide variety of glass mediums. Designed to interact with natural light, changing throughout the day and casting beautiful reflections that transform the atmosphere of the space for which they were chosen.

Commissions and making small pieces sold through instagram

I enjoy making Silver Reaction Jewellery and Colourful Patterned Bowls. I’m fascinated in the organic and earthy effects produced by the silver foil when combined with different colours of glass, sometimes with surprising results. I enjoy experimenting and discovering ‘glass recipes’ to produce unusual and subtle combinations for my jewellery.
The Colourful Patterned Bowls I make are produced using various techniques, but I particularly enjoy creating patchwork/mosaic designs. I begin by hand drawing a design, usually with a colour palette in mind, and then create various patterned part sheets to bring the piece to life, its very satisfying to see a bowl take shape as I cut and assemble the pieces.

My main interests are glass, nature and conservation. I love water and produce glass pieces and panels which explore similarities between glass and water – transparency, liqidity, light and colour.
I have produced decorative dynamic fused panels,and themed unusual 3-D glass pieces.
I am currently working on producing a series of fused panels on a conservation theme.

Residencies in Summer 2018 at North Lands Creative, Lybster and in Canary Wharf London, and at Ruth Smith Gallery North Tawton Devon in 2023 continue to inspire my explorations in fusing metals and materials, mark making and memoires. In 2019 whilst exhibiting at the International Festival of Glass in Stourbridge I attended a Master Class with Jane Cook ‘ blowpipe chemistry’ & in 2022 pate de verre boxes with Satoshi Ishada . Recent exhibitions include Jan/Feb 2020 with Just Glass Recollection – Memories in Glass at the Espacio Gallery in Shoreditch London and during 2022 Earth Sky Sea at London Glass Blowing

Recently I have become interested in how a work evolves after an initial dynamic intervention on the glass. Starting from this randomised ‘canvas’ I use glass fusing techniques allowing themes and ideas to coalesce and become the completed work. This approach enables me to produce unique decorative and functional items through to larger more considered artwork.

Janine Altman was born in Uruguay. Studied painting, jewellery, engraving and fused glass as a child. She studied Systems Engineering at Engineering University in Montevideo, Uruguay. Then she felt the need to go back to the art world, which is why in 2002 created her atelier to start an artistic journey of experimentation and discovery within this fantastic world of glass. She has been selected to participate in several international and national congresses, biennials, fairs and exhibitions. Her artworks can be found in museum collections like the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia (USA); MAVA, Alcorcón Glass Art Museum (Spain); Museo Municipal de Cartago, Costa Rica, and as part of public and private collections in several countries. Director of the ACCS Visual Arts Gallery in Montevideo, Uruguay.